EXORCISTS NEVER DIE #4, from Mad Cave Studios on 7/26/23, pits Syd and El against the deadly sin of Greed – a sweet-talking dragon who can promise the world and more in exchange for your soul.
The Details
- Written by: Steve Orlando
- Art by: Sebastián Píriz
- Colors by: Sebastián Píriz
- Letters by: Carlos M. Mangual
- Cover art by: Sebastián Píriz
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 26, 2023
Is It Good?
EXORCISTS NEVER DIE #4 gets the exorcists fighters, Syn and El, back on track as a team when they face off against the next deadly sin – Greed. Steve Orlando gets back to the novel approach of fighting the demons with their unique brand of enticements while using the fight as a meta-commentary on Syd and El’s relationship. On the whole, EXORCISTS NEVER DIE #4 is one of the better issues in the run.
When last we left Syd and El, they barely managed to survive their battle with Gluttony. Now, the exorcists enter a gold-filled chamber lorded over by a dragon who knows how deep the well of desire goes within the human heart. When the dragon offers Syd and El the chance to have everything they ever wanted, the exorcists learn about each other’s deepest desires and how very different their life goals are.
What’s great about this issue? Orlando gets back to the central premise of what made this series so unique. Syd and El’s fight against a deadly sin works on two levels – the physical fight and the truth each sin provides about their failed relationship. You could ponder the implications for days, so Orlando’s multi-layered approach turns a standard fantasy comic into something more meaningful.
What’s not so great about this issue? The odd disconnect we noted in issue #3 crops up again in issue #4. When Syd and El experience shared visions brought on by Greed’s power, the visions don’t really read as “greedy.” If anything, El’s vision reflects desires based on Pride. It would be different if Syd and El had visions that take a natural want and amplified them to an unhealthy extreme, but you don’t get that here.
How’s the art? It’s generally good, but the minor down point is Sebastián Píriz’s creative choices with panel layouts during Syd and El’s dream. The lettering didn’t completely match up with the flow of the panels, so the reading order occasionally got lost. Everything else looks great.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our EXORCISTS NEVER DIE #3 review to find out how Syd and El dealt with the previous deadly sin.
We begin with Syd and El entering a vast chamber piled with gold. Instantly, the exorcists can feel a pull to have all their dreams satisfied. Greed, an immense dragon, greets the exorcists.
Gree explains that he can grant them all they desire if they become part of his treasure, leaving their active mind in a state of perpetual paradise. Greed’s words lull Syd and El into visions of the life they always wanted, giving them insight into each other’s true desires.
We conclude the issue with enlightenment, hand-holding, and a dangerous gift.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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EXORCISTS NEVER DIE #4 gets back to the series’s unique premise by pitting Syd and El against the deadly sin of Greed. Orlando’s multi-layered approach is an interesting commentary about the ups and downs of relationships within a fantasy adventure, and the art is solid.
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